Ask a Question, Get an Answer (Maybe)

[Manly Biceps]

Originally Posted by Rednusander

I think everyone in localization has some games they just put a little more soul into than others, because you like the game or the characters so much that you want to give it your best effort possible. For me, those titles are Izuna 2 and 3D Dot Game Heroes.

Also because 3D Dot Game Heroes launched your rap career.

[Phoenix_Apollo]

I have a question that kind of stems along with this. Are games that are multiplatform much more complicated in general to localize and publish than games for a single platform? I ask this because you two mentioned not liking to work on Baroque as much as others, and having to do two versions of that game (especially for QA) must have been really something. But I can also imagine a game like Demon's Souls be pretty difficult to QA too.

[Manly Biceps]

Originally Posted by Phoenix_Apollo

I have a question that kind of stems along with this. Are games that are multiplatform much more complicated in general to localize and publish than games for a single platform? I ask this because you two mentioned not liking to work on Baroque as much as others, and having to do two versions of that game (especially for QA) must have been really something. But I can also imagine a game like Demon's Souls be pretty difficult to QA too.

It's generally not tougher to localize, but it is a pain in the ass to QA. Everything needs to be tested separately. So, it's tougher to publish, but localization is basically not impacted aside from making sure that you refer to the buttons properly in the game and manual.

[Rednusander]

Originally Posted by Phoenix_Apollo

I have a question that kind of stems along with this. Are games that are multiplatform much more complicated in general to localize and publish than games for a single platform? I ask this because you two mentioned not liking to work on Baroque as much as others, and having to do two versions of that game (especially for QA) must have been really something. But I can also imagine a game like Demon's Souls be pretty difficult to QA too.

Ya'll are asking the beefy questions on the last day before a holiday weekend. Smart!

The short answer is yes. Twice the certifications, twice the text checking, twice the bugs, twice the places to fix them in. Thankfully, also twice the team members, most of the time.

One tester, bless his soul, was testing Baroque for some ungodly period of time because he moved from PS2, to Wii, and then got pulled into the European version's QA cycle too. He... is no longer at Atlus, but WHAT A TROOPER. Ask anyone at Atlus about testers they remember fondly, and it will either be him, or the legendary 8 of P4.

[Rednusander]

Manly's answers are clearly more manly than mine, hence why the come out first.

[Manly Biceps]

No more hard-hitting questions to ask before we check out for the year?

[Hamel]

Here is one
What do I get for my 40-game-beating?

[Phoenix_Apollo]

Would you say there's more work in localizing games (Demon's Souls/3D Dot Game Heroes), or publishing them for the first time? (101 Party Megamix/The Cursed Crusade) Additionally, is doing downloadable only games (Droplitz) easier to deal with than games that are both downloadable and retail?

[Fuyukaze]

Originally Posted by Hamel

Here is one
What do I get for my 40-game-beating?

I smell a custom title in your future but then again that could be my stink I'm smelling.

[Rednusander]

Originally Posted by Phoenix_Apollo

Would you say there's more work in localizing games (Demon's Souls/3D Dot Game Heroes), or publishing them for the first time? (101 Party Megamix/The Cursed Crusade) Additionally, is doing downloadable only games (Droplitz) easier to deal with than games that are both downloadable and retail?

OH MAN, I was about to go home, and then I had to check the forums...

But to be honest, I'm not sure I understand the question, unless you're talking about the games we localize like 3DDGH (Demon's Souls actually involved the localization staff very little) versus the games we publish - like 101.

But really, every game and every platform, including digital distribution, is its own beast, as every game comes from a different company and goes through different processes set by the first parties. Even Atlus projects are not consistent, as they are programmed by different people/teams over there. Not even 101 simply walks in our door and flies right back out it.

In short, we've never had an "easy" game, whether it was full-scale localization or pushing it through the publishing process, which is not as simple as slapping a logo and a rating on the cover.

HAPPY NEW YEARSSSSSS

[Phoenix_Apollo]

I was asking if it was easier to handle publishing a game for the first time versus localizing and publishing, and then whether dealing with downloadable games was simpler than games both at retail and available for download, but that pretty much answered my question.

Happy New Year, by the way!

[ImANocturneManiac]

Happpppyyyy new yearrrrrr everyone, keep up with the good work xD
since this is offtopic i'll make a question:
what is the origin of the name atlus? why have you approached this macabre style and god-releated stuff for the games? (it's fantastic in my opinion but wondered why xD)

[lol, forums]

Originally Posted by Phoenix_Apollo

I was asking if it was easier to handle publishing a game for the first time versus localizing and publishing, and then whether dealing with downloadable games was simpler than games both at retail and available for download, but that pretty much answered my question.

Something being easy or not doesn't really apply to the company as a whole, so there isn't really an straightforward answer to that question. For the translators and editors, publishing is easier since the former isn't even needed on the project while the latter will typically have less to do and less hurdles to surmount (lost in translation stuff). But for QA, publishing is definitely more difficult since the game hasn't already passed submission in another region, meaning that it's almost guaranteed to be significantly more buggy. For project leads, it's probably more case by case like Red said. On the one hand, localization projects means they have to manage all that localizing, whereas publishing projects means they're having to get involved a lot earlier in development and deal with things that come up along that way.

As for retail/downloadable, a game that's available through both will always be less simple to handle than one that's only available through one outlet, regardless of which one it is--common sense should dictate that multiple outlets means more stuff to deal with, hence less simple. That said, the extra complexity is largely negligible. It doesn't affect the localization team at all, while QA only has to do minor extra testing on the secondary version. If anything, it's worse on the project lead, since they have more paperwork to deal with, more contacts to deal with, more assets (packaging, marketplace banners, etc.) to deal with, etc.

[KingOfPrinces]

What does -San after a Japanese persons name mean? For example: miyamoto-san.

[Manly Biceps]

Originally Posted by KingOfPrinces

What does -San after a Japanese persons name mean? For example: miyamoto-san.

San is "Three" in Japanese. So, it's like King Richard III. Or William van Landingham III.

[Archie55]

Out of all the games games published which one is your personal favorite (from the day you started working till now)?

[Olethros]

I was going to type up something witty and all that for my first attempted answer in the question thread for 2011 but I haven't shaken off all the rust of my recent hiatus yet.

So instead I'll just say it's a sign of respect.


EDIT: Dammit MB, my rust not only let you beat me to the punch but it also made you get in a wittier reply as well!

[Manly Biceps]

Originally Posted by Archie55

Out of all the games games published which one is your personal favorite (from the day you started working till now)?

If you go all the way back to page 50 of this thread, you can see your question get answered.

[NeoHikamaru]

Is there a way to send ideas or suggestions to Atlus/Persona Developers?
And if so, how can I?

EDIT #1- Is there a language translator online that can change everything I write in Japanese?

Btw, can I post theme in the "Game Suggestions" Forum?

[Manly Biceps]

Originally Posted by NeoHikamaru

Is there a way to send ideas or suggestions to Atlus/Persona Developers?
And if so, how can I?

Step 1) Learn Japanese.
Step 2) Register for Atlus Japan's forums.
Step 3) Find the ideas/suggestions thread on their forums.
Step 4) Post.

There's no other avenue for communicating those ideas.

[Phoenix_Apollo]

Originally Posted by lol, forums

Something being easy or not doesn't really apply to the company as a whole, so there isn't really an straightforward answer to that question. For the translators and editors, publishing is easier since the former isn't even needed on the project while the latter will typically have less to do and less hurdles to surmount (lost in translation stuff). But for QA, publishing is definitely more difficult since the game hasn't already passed submission in another region, meaning that it's almost guaranteed to be significantly more buggy. For project leads, it's probably more case by case like Red said. On the one hand, localization projects means they have to manage all that localizing, whereas publishing projects means they're having to get involved a lot earlier in development and deal with things that come up along that way.

As for retail/downloadable, a game that's available through both will always be less simple to handle than one that's only available through one outlet, regardless of which one it is--common sense should dictate that multiple outlets means more stuff to deal with, hence less simple. That said, the extra complexity is largely negligible. It doesn't affect the localization team at all, while QA only has to do minor extra testing on the secondary version. If anything, it's worse on the project lead, since they have more paperwork to deal with, more contacts to deal with, more assets (packaging, marketplace banners, etc.) to deal with, etc.

I see. Thank you. Don't get me wrong, I could guess on my own that shipping to retail is obviously more difficult that simply releasing it for download, but you answered the question in the way I was hoping someone would, instead of the straight answer. So, thanks for that.

[lol, forums]

Originally Posted by Manly Biceps

San is "Three" in Japanese. So, it's like King Richard III. Or William van Landingham III.

I'm always up for having some fun and all, but not when that fun lacks any sort of transparency and is looking like it will lead to someone going on to believe an untruth, one that they very well might pass on to others. So since no one else has mentioned it (EDIT: whoops, I guess Olethros did), look here for an actual answer:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_honorifics#San.

But basically, while "san" is "three" in Japanese, when used with a name it's like English's Mr./Mrs.

Originally Posted by Manly Biceps

If you go all the way back to page 50 of this thread, you can see your question get answered.

Not everyone has their posts per page set the same, you know.

Originally Posted by NeoHikamaru

EDIT #1- Is there a language translator online that can change everything I write in Japanese?

Yes, but not in such a way that what you end up with would be practical for anything other than having a good laugh at.

[Manly Biceps]

Originally Posted by lol, forums

I'm always up for having some fun and all, but not when that fun lacks any sort of transparency and is looking like it will lead to someone going on to believe an untruth, one that they very well might pass on to others. So since no one else has mentioned it, look here for an actual answer:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_honorifics#San.

But basically, while "san" is "three" in Japanese, when used with a name it's like English's Mr./Mrs.

I was GOING to clarify it as soon as they commented. Booooo!

[lol, forums]

Originally Posted by Manly Biceps

I was GOING to clarify it as soon as they commented. Booooo!

Not my fault you were late to the draw. Maybe someone needs to stop with all the working and get back to some forums slacking.

[KingOfPrinces]

I have another question. The economy lately has been rough on all of us and I was curious if there has been any layoffs at ATLUS USA recently?

[Onion of Mystery]

A.R.A.M.'s been downgraded from his octo-processor rig back down to dual-core. He's not taking it well.

[Hamel]

Originally Posted by Onion of Mystery

A.R.A.M.'s been downgraded from his octo-processor rig back down to dual-core. He's not taking it well.

So that's why we are hearing less from him

[Karkarov]

Originally Posted by Hamel

So that's why we are hearing less from him

He is probably just prepping for a new sandy bridge system and pretending to move to a lesser system so as to mock his lessers more effectively.

[Steel Greyfalke]

Would Atlus ever give out A Wallet or handbag as a bonus item?

[System_Error]

So Atlus, got a bit of a mess to clean up yea?